The Arbiter 11.4.21 Vol. 34 Issue 5

November 4, 2021

Vol. 34, Issue 5

I NDEP EN D E N T

STUD E N T

VO I C E

O F

B O I SE

STATE

S I N C E

QUEER AT BSU:

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a c o m p r e h e n s i v e l g b t q i a r e s o u r c e g u i d e

NEWS

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President Tromp and the Boise State community respond to the Boise Towne Square Mall shooting.

VISIT US ONLINE:

OPINION

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Idaho’s refusal to change marijuana laws is causing the state to lose millions of dollars to Oregon sales. arbiteronline.com

CULTURE

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GIMM students are gaining real world experience and working on community engagement projects. @arbiteronline

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SPORTS & REC

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Men’s cross country wins second place, De Caro records second-fastest run ever at Mountain West.

@arbiteronline

@arbiteronline

Editor-In-Chief Blake Hunter editor@stumedia.boisestate.edu Online Editor Ashley L. Clark onlineeditor@stumedia.boisestate.edu News Editor Andrea Teres - Martinez news@stumedia.boisestate.edu News Reporter Fenix Dietz news@stumedia.boisestate.edu Culture Editor Amanda Niess culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu Culture Reporter Julianne Gee culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu Sports & Rec Editor Lexi Almeido sports@stumedia.boisestate.edu Sports & Rec Reporter Adam Bridges sports@stumedia.boisestate.edu Opinion Editor Paige Wirta opinion@stumedia.boisestate.edu Copy Editor Kelby Andrew copy@stumedia.boisestate.edu Social Media Coordinator Becky Wilson Digital Content Manager Claire Keener digitalcontent@stumedia.boisestate.edu Digital Content Producer Corissa Campbell Graphic Design Manager Sasha White design@stumedia.boisestate.edu Graphic Designer Cassie McGarty Illustrator Alieha Dryden Distributed every few weeks during the academic school year and online daily, The Arbiter is the official independent student newspaper of Boise State University, where student editors make all content decisions and bear responsibility for those decisions. The Arbiter’s budget consists of fees paid by the student body and advertising sales. The first copy is free. Additional copies can be purchased for $1 a piece at The Arbiter offices.

PHOTO OF THE WEEK Latin American students across campus honored Día de los Muertos, including through some Student Equity events.

Claire Keener | The Arbiter

ON THE COVER:

Idaho has a long histor y of not supporting queer and trans people, and it can be especially difficult for students to feel supported. For our feature this edition we've compiled a resource guide of organizations on campus and across the Treasure Valley who support LGBTQIA+ communities.

HOW TO REACH US: CONTACT US: editor@stumedia.boisestate.edu 208.426.6302 PHYSICAL LOCATION: Located on first floor of Lincoln Avenue Garage Suites

MISSION:

As a student-run organization, we produce accurate and hyper-local information through non-par tisan and socially responsible media.

MAILING ADDRESS: Student Media MS 1340 1910 W Universit y Dr. Boise, ID 83725 -1340

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31ST ANNIVERSARY OF THE FALL OF THE BERLIN WALL: NOVEMBER 9, 5 P.M. - 7 P.M. – THE QUAD

FIND US ONLINE FOR MORE CONTENT - SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER - LEARN HOW TO GET INVOLVED - VIEW OUR VIRTUAL PAPER

SCAN HERE

NATIVE NOVEMBER PRESENTS RESERVATION DOGS:

NOVEMBER 9, 11, 16 & 18, 5:30P.M. - 7:30P.M. – STUDENT EQUITY CENTER STUDENT EQUITY IS HOSTING FOUR VIEWING PARTIES OF RESERVATION DOGS WITH FREE DRINKS AND POPCORN. THERE WILL BE DISCUSSION AND REFLECTION ON NATIVE LIFE AND EXPERIENCES AFTER EACH SHOWING.

THE GERMAN CLUB AT BOISE STATE WILL BE ERECTING A MOCK BERLIN WALL. STUDENTS CAN “TAG” THE WALL WITH SPRAY PAINT AND HELP TEAR IT DOWN AT THE END OF THE EVENT TO COMMEMORATE THE REUNIFICATION OF GERMANY.

FIRST BASKETBALL GAMES OF THE SEASON: WOMEN’S BASKETBALL OPENS THEIR SEASON WITH AN EXHIBITION GAME AGAINST SOUTH OREGON ON SATURDAY, NOV. 6TH AT 2 P.M. AT EXTRAMILE ARENA. MEN’S BASKETBALL OPENS THEIR SEASON WITH A HOME GAME AGAINST UTAH VALLEY ON TUESDAY, NOV. 9 AT 7 P.M. AT EXTRAMILE ARENA.

NEWS

November 4, 2021 | ARBITERONLINE.COM

SOLVING LOCAL HOUSING CRISIS CALLS FOR COLLABORATION

Housing demand remains high, but experts say solution isn’t simply to build more housing

Alaina Uhlenhof f | News Repor ter | news@stumedia.boisestate.edu

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s a large organization, Boise State has a key role in helping the Treasure Valley solve the current housing crisis.

With an ever-rising demand for affordable housing, what Boise does now will lay a foundation for life in the Treasure Valley in the years to come. At the heart of that process is a collaboration with Boise State and the Idaho Policy Institute.

“We founded the Institute in 2016, and the whole premise is to be an objective research resource for Idaho’s decision-makers,” Dr. Vanessa Fry said.

Fry is the interim director and co-founder of the Idaho Policy Institute and is also an associate research faculty member in the School of Public Service at Boise State.

Research is key to ensuring that housing solutions are tailored to support specific groups who are in need, according to Fry. Among those groups are university students and staff who are affected by the housing shortage.

“From some of the research we’re conducting now, we’re seeing that [employers are] having a hard time attracting and retaining talent because they’re having a hard time finding housing for them,” Fry said.

Employers can offer part of the solution by creating housing support plans for employees while they look for somewhere to live.

“On the staff and faculty side of things, we’re looking at what kind of opportunities the university has with properties right now, to provide some sort of bridge support or housing for new talent coming to the area,” Fry said.

Although building more housing is important, there are a variety of addi-

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tional solutions that can help Boise and the surrounding areas achieve sustainable growth.

According to Fry, the City of Boise and the university own adjacent properties in some areas, which suggests an opportunity to collaborate with housing projects in the future.

Another important demographic to keep in mind is essential workers.

They need housing they can afford close to where they work, or else necessary industries like health care and home maintenance will struggle, according to Katie McInally.

McInally is a senior urban studies and community development student and is also in her first year as a part of the accelerated Master of Public Administration program.

“Think about the people who literally cannot work remotely,” McInally said. “They’re your electricians and your plumbers and people that we rely on heavily to function as a society, and if we stop taking care of their housing needs, we won’t have them.”

One way to protect essential workers is to preserve existing affordable housing and keep people in their current homes.

“The most important thing is to empower people to stay in the homes that they have,” McInally said. “A lot of people are getting pushed out because of rising rents.”

Idaho has about a 30% renter population, and supporting that population is vital, according to McInally.

“We need to identify and support landlords who are providing affordable housing rentals already,” McInally said.

One creative way to provide more renting options is to make the additions

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The Idaho Policy Institute at Boise State has students researching to solve the housing crisis in the Treasure Valley, including the areas close to campus.

Claire Keener | The Arbiter of accessory dwelling units (ADUs) more of a common practice among homeowners, according to Nathaniel Campbell, a senior urban studies and community development major at Boise State.

An ADU is a small separate addition to a property that a homeowner can rent out. However, permits for these are expensive and, to make ADUs rentable, many require a separate power supply which can cost more than $10,000 to install, according to Campbell.

Boise can also use creative zoning to help with the growing population.

“Density is something that’s really important,” McInally said. “Zoning properly allows for density. So, if we have an area of town that’s already zoned

as purely commercial, that negates any possibility of putting housing in that area. We can look at the zoning code to make sure that land use is at maximum efficiency.”

Boise’s collaboration with developers is a matter of incentivizing the private sector to want to work with the city and make the kinds of units most needed, according to Fry. “There’s not one policy that is [going to] fix everything,” McInally said. “It’s really a collaboration of all the folks that are working to solve the problem coming together, and every little policy is going to make a difference.”

BSU RESPONDS TO MALL SHOOTING

COVID-19 BOOSTER AVAILABLE

NEWS

The Oct. 25 shooting left two dead and four injured

The university vaccination clinic is open for boosters

Alaina Uhlenhof f | News Repor ter | news@stumedia.boisestate.edu

Kelby Andrew | Staf f Writer & Copy Editor | news@stumedia.boisestate.edu

he Boise State community is still processing and responding to the Oct. 25 Boise Towne Square mass shooting that left two victims dead and four injured, including a Boise Police officer.

Boise Police officers took the suspect, identified as 27-year-old Jacob Bergquist, into custody after he was wounded exchanging fire with police. He later died at the hospital, Boise Police Department announced in an Oct. 26 afternoon press conference.

“Yesterday’s tragic shooting at the Boise Towne Square mall was a shared trauma for the Boise community,” wrote Boise State President Dr. Marlene Tromp in a press release and email Oct. 26. The email was also signed by Alicia Estey, vice president for University Affairs and chief of staff, and Dr. John Buckwalter, provost and vice president for Academic Affairs.

Boise State Health Services and Counseling Services are offering crisis walk-in services. Members of the Boise State community are encouraged to reach out if they need support.

“Regardless of whether you were directly impacted by this event, or were there and knew somebody that was there, it could also be traumatizing for you or triggering for you,” said Dr. Matt Niece, director of Counseling Services at University Health Services. “You know, there are such things as vicarious trauma, secondary trauma, and those in a lot of instances can be just as real as if you were there witnessing the event firsthand.”

The Ada County Coroner’s Office identified the two deceased victims as Jo Acker of Caldwell, a 26-year-old Boise Towne Square mall security guard, and Roberto Padilla Arguelles, 49, of Rupert, as reported by The Idaho Statesman.

Tromp stressed in the press release that there were no ongoing threats to Boise

ppointments for Pfizer, Moderna and Jannsen (J&J) COVID-19 booster shots are now available to the Boise community through the Boise State Vaccination Clinic.

Last week, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) sanctioned the use of Moderna and J&J boosters; Pfizer had already received its booster authorization in late September.

In this same drove of endorsements, the FDA also approved the mixing of COVID vaccines, meaning those eligible for a booster can receive a dose different from their initial vaccination.

At this time, data from booster trials indicates that mixing doses is both safe and effective.

According to Jason Carter, manager of the Boise State Vaccination Clinic, anyone 18 years or older with “frequent institutional or occupational exposure” to COVID-19, including college students, are eligible to receive booster shots through the clinic as soon as they pass the required waiting period.

Those who were vaccinated with Pfizer or Moderna must wait six months following their second dose to receive a booster, while those who received the J&J single-shot vaccine are eligible for a booster shot just two months after their initial single-dose vaccination.

Individuals who received two doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine are currently unable to receive a booster shot. However, in line with CDC guidance, those who only received a partial dose of AstraZeneca can begin a new vaccine series, meaning they will be vaccinated fully using one of the three doses currently approved for use within the United States.

Carter stated that Moderna has proven to be the most effective against the delta variant, currently the dominant strain of COVID-19 in the United States.

However, Pfizer and J&J boosters also

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State students and staff, in response to rumors on social media regarding ongoing risks to campus safety.

“I want to reassure you as members of the campus community that our public safety and communications teams are in regular contact with the Boise Police Department,” Tromp wrote.

Niece encouraged students to take care of themselves and recognize the wide range of feelings and reactions that follow a traumatic event like this.

He wants students to feel comfortable submitting a CARE referral for anyone they know who is struggling and needs additional support.

“Come on into counseling services,” Niece said. “We are here for you Monday through Friday, eight to five. All you have to do is identify that you need to be seen right away, and we’re here for that.”

Boiseans gathered outside the mall for a vigil on Oct. 28 and left flowers to remember the victims.

Boiseans paid their respects to the two victims of the mall shooting in a vigil.

Paige Wirta | The Arbiter

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significantly improve protection against the virus.

According to Carter, informal data collected from Boise State’s own antibody studies on campus showed a decline in the subjects’ COVID-19 antibodies after six months. As a result, booster shots may be necessary to help prolong individual immunity and further mitigate the virus’ spread.

“That’s why we’re doing the booster ... we don’t know now long these vaccines are going to last, and we think the booster shots are going to give a much longer immunity for it.”

- Jason Carter, Boise State

Vaccination Clinic manager

“I’ve seen several people that don’t even have antibodies registering six months after being fully vaccinated,” Carter said.

“That’s why we’re doing the booster … we don’t know how long these vaccines are going to last, and we think booster shots are going to give a much longer immunity for it.”

Individuals can receive a booster through the Boise State Vaccination Clinic regardless of whether they received their initial shot(s) at a different vaccination site. Additionally, those who are unable to present their COVID-19 vaccination card at the time of their appointment will still be permitted to get a booster.

Within the coming weeks, the clinic will also begin administering pediatric doses of the Pfizer vaccine for children ages 5-11. Pediatric doses have been granted emergency use authorization by the FDA, but are currently awaiting final approval by the CDC.

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NEWS

POLITICAL CAMPUS ORGS REACT TO CALLS FOR PARTY CHANGE PRE-ELECTION

Former BSU president Bob Kustra suggests voters switch party membership to counter far-right influence Patrick R. Kaufmann | Staf f Writer | news@stumedia.boisestate.edu

With Idaho’s Republican-dominated government, most statewide elections are decided in the partisan primaries.

Photo courtesy of Kim Hairston

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ormer Boise State president Dr. Robert Kustra suggested that registered Idaho Democrats should consider changing their political party membership to Republican in an opinion article published in the Idaho Statesman — a call which has garnered diverse reactions across the political spectrum.

The reason: to bolster votes for moderate Republicans, tipping the scales away from far-right candidates like Lt. Gov. Janice McGeachin, who is running for governor.

“It’s time for Idaho citizens to step up and be counted among those who reject candidates and public officials who use threats and intimidation to achieve their political objectives,” Kustra wrote.

The call comes amid a series of conflicts that continue to propel Idaho politics into national news.

From the recent showdown between Governor Brad Little and Lt. Gov. Janice

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McGeachin, to an inflammatory meme shared by state Rep. Tammy Nichols encouraging violence against progressive organizations and journalists, the Gem State is doing little to contain its political quarrels.

“The fact that calls like that are being made, to have a party rescued from radicalism by members of another party is obviously troubling,” freshman political science major Sam Pinson said.

Pinson, who serves as president of Boise State’s Political Science Association, noted a perception of candidates pulling further to the left or the right in their respective party primary before aligning close to the center for general elections.

“The base of a political party tends to be more polarized than the majority,” Pinson said. “Moderate Republicans in Idaho haven’t been voting as much, proportionally speaking, as their more hard-line counterparts.”

Former Idaho attorney general Jim

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Jones shares Kustra’s concerns over the Republican party’s shift toward extremism. Jones, who has also served as chief justice of the Idaho Supreme Court, emphasized increased participation in the upcoming primary.

Voters would need to submit a party affiliation form and register as Republican to vote in the May 2022 primary. State primary elections are only open to registered members of their respective party due to a law passed in 2011.

“I know there are Idahoans who would not feel comfortable leaving the Democratic primary,” Kustra said. “And I respect that, but they might also think about where they can have the greatest impact on Idaho’s future.”

Kustra cited a disparity between the state’s moderate Republicans and what he termed as the “wing-nuts of the right.”

That disparity is not universally acknowledged.

“Idaho’s current Republicans are not your grandfather’s party,” said Jared DeLoof, executive director of the Idaho Democratic Party. “The extremism is alarming, particularly for marginalized groups.”

According to Deloof, asking Idaho voters to align with moderate Republicans against more extreme candidates is deceptive.

“There’s not much daylight between attention grabbers and moderates,” DeLoof said. “Moderates and extremists vote together on issues like defunding education or driving a witch hunt for critical race theory.”

There is some debate about what defines a candidate as moderate.

“We’re a party of conservative values,” student John Koenig said. “We can’t be the Democratic party from 10 years ago, which is what the Republican party has really started turning into.”

John Koenig is a senior computer science major and an officer in the

College Republicans at Boise State.

Koenig disagrees with Kustra on labeling Republicans like McGeachin as far-right or extreme.

“The primary narrative in the U.S. has shifted so far left that people who hold any semblance of a conservative value will be labeled as extremist,” Koenig said. “I think that the language that the Idaho Republican party has been hijacked by extremists is very misleading.”

It is unclear what impact that further calls from Kustra or from other prominent Idahoans will have on Idaho politics.

“The fact that this kind of call is gaining traction is showing how the Republican party is going,” DeLoof said.

Deloof pointed to previous reports of infighting within the Idaho GOP during former representative Raul Labrador’s 2018 gubernatorial run.

Some present-day Republicans are not surprised by the idea of Democrats registering to vote in the GOP primary.

“I do think that there’s a good chance that a lot of people will register,” said Koenig of the Republican primary. “But given the very large Republican base in Idaho, I don’t think they’ll have any successful influence on the outcome.”

There are other factors supporting Koenig’s prediction. Voting patterns don’t usually shift during a primary, and a voter who registers for the Republican party primary would then lose their vote in a Democratic primary.

“We’ve seen so much change in our elections over the past few years,” Pinson said. “While actions like this are important, you’re more likely to see problematic changes in rules in vote counting and access to polling.”

Considering Idaho’s growing population and its rising prominence in national news, the Republican primary is likely to draw more interest in the future.

NEWS

BOISE STATE PREPARES TO RESPOND TO BIDEN’S NEW HISPANIC EQUITY ORDER

New educational equity order seeks to minimize “systematic inequitable barriers” faced by Latinx students Andrea Teres- Mar tinez | News Editor | news@stumedia.boisestate.edu

President Joe Biden signed the new initiative in September, but little is known yet about how it will impact students.

Photo courtesy of Doug Mills

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resident Joe Biden announced a new initiative aimed at advancing educational equity and economic opportunity for Hispanic students.

The executive order was published on Sept. 13 on the White House’s website under the name “White House Initiative on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence and Economic Opportunity for Hispanics.”

The initiative aims to minimize the “systemic inequitable barriers” impacting the education of this marginalized group, many of which were exacerbated after the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The order also created the new Presidential Advisory Commission on Advancing Equity, Excellence and Economic Opportunity for Hispanics, which is currently working to create guidelines for the order.

“With an executive order like this ... it seems like the majority of the work is not even started yet, so these recommendations are going to be coming from these task forces and these working groups,” said Mike Sharp, Boise State director of

media relations. “Right now they’re still starting to build those things.”

The most recent numbers published by the university show that 13% of students enrolled in Boise State identify as Hispanic/Latino. That’s 3,047 students total.

Since 2012, there’s been a 5% increase in the amount of Latinx attending Boise State, a number which continues to grow.

“If you look nationwide, and Idaho is not an exception to this, one of the fastest growing demographics really are Hispanic students and so that’s something that, as a public institution, we want to serve the people,” said John Buckwalter, provost and vice president of Academic Affairs for Boise State University. “Those are our students, those are our potential students.”

In his time working at different institutions, Buckwalter provided academic mentorship to college students, some of whom identified as Latinx.

“There are some common barriers, in the sense that you tend to have a lot of first-generation college students, and so navigating just the simple process of applying can be overwhelming,” Buckwal-

ter said. “There may be some unrealistic expectations in terms of what it means to go to college.”

Junior political science major and Vice President of Inclusive Excellence Student Council (IESC) Grace Burgert believes eliminating some of these unrealistic expectations would first require getting rid of language barriers.

“I think one of the hardest parts about coming from a family that has English as a second language is that when you encounter forms and documentation, things that you have to fill out, it’s really difficult because the language in there is even hard for people who speak the language to understand because of the jargon that it uses,” Burgert said.

According to Burgert, what makes this barrier significant is its impact on a student’s ability to ask for help.

“If you’re thinking about reaching out to professors, it can be extremely intimidating because you don’t know how to construct an email to a professor; you’re nervous about constructing an email because you don’t know what that professionalism looks like,” Burgert said.

Biden’s order outlines potential for new Latinx-oriented programs and initiatives specific to Boise State. However, the university could also respond by working to maximize the reach of programs already in place.

Boise State is home to many different organizations dedicated to supporting its Latinx population. Some of these include Organización de Estudiantes Latino-Americanos (OELA), Movimiento Estudiantil Progressive Action (MEPA) and the College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP).

“If [the university] doesn’t want to start something new, there are still a lot of programs that they could enhance,” Burgert said.

The order could also provide that final and necessry push for the university to

act on passed resolutions that have yet to be implemented.

Two years ago, IESC passed the “Welcome Passenger Initiative.” Two of its clauses promised to make university resources multilingual and to provide legal services for DACA renewal, both of which currently lack enforcement.

“If we could get even more support to actually start working on resource accessibility for multilingual students and then also the DACA renewal — legal assistance for that — that would be amazing,” Burgert said. “The university is in a tough position right now because of external politics that are happening in Idaho and so I know that they’re kind of weary about this kind of stuff, but I’m hoping that because it’s all already been passed … that they can actually prioritize it.”

When looking at ways to implement Biden’s new Hispanic equity order, both Buckwalter and Burgert emphasized looking to other schools for example.

“I think the university could also look towards other colleges in Idaho. I know that CSI has actually been really great at helping its Latinx students,” Burgert said.

College of Southern Idaho became Idaho’s first Hispanic Serving Institution in 2021, a classification which allows the university to apply for more federal grants.

“I think at some point in the future, Boise State could be a Hispanic serving institution,” Buckwalter said.

As the Presidential Advisory Commission continues expanding Biden’s order, Boise State prepares to respond in a way that will benefit the student population.

“Here at Boise State, we’re excited about serving our Hispanic students,” Buckwalter said. “It’s something that is on our mind and we continue to look for ways we can make all students, including Hispanic students, successful here in the institution so they can move on to meaningful lives and meaningful careers.”

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OPINION November 4, 2021 | ARBITERONLINE.COM

LEGALIZING MARIJUANA WILL BOOST IDAHO ECONOMY, LOWER INCARCERATION

Neighboring states report high profits for marijuana sales from Idahoans Paige Wir ta | Opinion Editor | opinion@stumedia.boisestate.edu

against legalizing marijuana, Legalize the Idaho Way has detailed a different way to “legalize’’ recreational marijuana.

The PAMDA act would lessen Idaho’s restrictions on marijunana usage while still maintaining some strict guidelines.

According to the website, the guidelines suggested include: marijuana must be purchased out-of-state at a legal marijuana shop; marijuana may only be transported in its sealed childproof containers with proof of purchase; marijuana may only be used and stored on private property with permission of the owner; marijuana must be transported directly from the legal marijuana shop to private property.

“It’s clear that some Idahoans like marijuana What they don’t like is being treated like criminals, fearing that their trip back from Oregon is going to get them arrested.”

- Russ Belville, president of

All of Idaho’s neighbors have legalized some form of marijuana, but Idaho lawmakers hold back.

Photo courtesy of Michael Fischer

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he legalization, decriminalization and use of marijuana has been a largely debated topic over the past several years, especially in Idaho.

With most of our surrounding states having legalized recreational and/or medical marijuana, I have often posed the question of when, rather than if, it will happen here, too.

The marijuana legalization advocacy non-profit organization Legalize the Idaho Way estimated that Oregon sold over $4 billion worth of marijuana products in the five years since its legalization. In September 2021 alone, sales reached over $95 million.

Additionally, a lot of sales in Ontario come from Idahoans traveling from the Boise area. In fact, the press release stated that Idahoans bought almost $200 million worth of products from Ontario.

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Russ Belville, the chief petitioner of the Personal Adult Marijuana Decriminalization Act (PAMDA) and president of Legalize the Idaho Way, said in an Oct. 6 press release that it’s both futile and frivolous to try to keep marijuana out of Idaho.

“It’s clear that some Idahoans like marijuana,” Belville said. “What they don’t like is being treated like criminals, fearing that their trip back from Oregon is going to get them arrested.”

This fear is especially worrisome for the Black community, who have been largely mistreated and targeted when it comes to marijuana-related arrests.

Though I’m not an economics major or expert by any means, it seems to me that if we want to boost our state’s economy — or further, our nation’s economy — legalizing the recreational use of marijuana would be a great option.

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However, that is much easier said than done. Conservatives and Republicans in Idaho have consistently attacked any measures to legalize medical or recreational marijuana.

Back in February, an amendment was passed in the Idaho Senate by one vote to “make it impossible for citizens to legalize medical or recreational marijuana — or any other psychoactive drugs not approved for use by the federal Food and Drug Administration.”

Thankfully, the amendment died on the house floor to a 42-28 vote, having needed 47 votes to pass. Still, it is clear that a large portion of Idaho politicians have no intentions to support the legalization of marijuana in any form.

Legalize the Idaho Way has another idea on how to lessen the restrictions on marijuana usage in Idaho. Because our lawmakers have consistently been

Legalize the Idaho Way

The website also says that outside of these parameters, marijuana would remain illegal.

Legalize the Idaho Way has created a new path to ease Idahoans into the idea of legalizing marijuana.

While I believe that full decriminalization and legalization at the federal and state level is still the ideal situation, I have come to understand that due to Idaho’s political climate, that isn’t going to happen any time soon.

OPINION

PERIOD POVERTY NEEDS TO END, AND BOISE STATE FACILITIES CAN HELP

Menstruators need access to period products without breaking the bank Paige Wir ta | Opinion Editor | opinion@stumedia.boisestate.edu

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rowing up, I was always painfully aware of my period. It seemed too taboo to actually discuss; I found myself confused, yet scared to ask questions. The education I received surrounding menstruation was more than lacking, and when I found myself at school, starting my first period, I had nothing — no tampons, no pads and worst of all, no quarters.

In the bathrooms of my middle school, tampons and pads cost 50 cents each. So, on the first day of my period, I had to wad up a pile of toilet paper and pray that was enough to get me through the day.

With time, I grew more comfortable with menstruating. However, I couldn’t help but notice that almost every time I went into a public bathroom, tampons and pads were locked up in a box for anywhere from 25 to 75 cents.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom recently signed a bill into law mandating that all public schools containing grades 6-12 supply free menstrual products to students in facilities.

“California recognizes that access to menstrual products is a basic human right and is vital for ensuring the health, dignity, and full participation of all Californians in public life,” the law says.

This is something that should have been implemented years ago nationwide. Period products should always be accessible and available to menstruators in any public bathroom, not limited to schools. This should be done not only to avoid creating more situations like the one I faced in middle school (and many times since), but also because menstruating should not be near as expensive as it is.

A study from 2019 found that half of menstruators have or are experiencing period poverty, which is defined as inadequate or lack of access to period

Access to free period products should be available in all restrooms.

Paige Wirta | The Arbiter products. Further, the study found that the average menstruator will spend around $14 a month on period products, which adds up to around $6400 in their lifetime.

Simply put, a bodily function as normal as going to the bathroom should not be something so inaccessible or expensive.

To non-menstruators, this may be confusing. But periods are a natural part of our lives, an occurrence that most of us will be going through for the majority of our lives. When we find ourselves in a public restroom without the products we need or some spare quarters, we are left to fend for ourselves.

Thankfully, most public bathrooms on the Boise State campus offer free period products — however, over here in the Student Media office, tampons and pads still cost a quarter to access.

As I’ve expressed, this shouldn’t be the case in any bathroom.

If I can walk into a health clinic and take away a pack of condoms for free, why can’t I do the same with tampons or pads? Why are all period products still classified as “non-essential” goods, taxed at 6%? What is non-essential about something that keeps me and menstruators worldwide from bleeding all over ourselves?

The “pink tax” that applies to period products in a number of states is just another result of the misogyny that is deeply embedded in our society. Suffice to say, if everyone in the world had a period, the products wouldn’t be near as expensive, the topic wouldn’t be near as taboo to discuss.

The time has come for all menstruators to be able to access safe period products without having to worry about

cost or bleeding through their favorite pair of jeans.

“If I can walk into a health clinic and take away a pack of condoms for free, why can’t I do the same with tampons or pads? Why are all period products still classified as ‘non-essential’ goods, taxed at 6%?”

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t is common knowledge that the State of Idaho is no friend to the LGBTQIA+ community. Idaho was ranked seventh in a nationwide rating of the worst states for queer people to live in a 2020 special report by 24/7 Wall St. A large part of this ranking is tied to Idaho’s laws and policies regarding LGBTQIA+ issues. According to the Movement Advancement Project (MAP) LGBT Equality Profile, Idaho has a poor policy rating of 3.75 out of 42.5. This means that Idaho only has 3.75 policies in place to support the LGBTQIA+ community.

Idaho is sorely lacking in nondiscrimination laws and the state’s constitution still defines marriage as “a civil contract between a man and a woman.”

Additionally, Idaho has been fighting to keep a state law that bans transgender students from participating in sports consistent with their gender identity.

Idaho also “explicitly excludes transition-related healthcare in their state employee health benefits.”

On campus, students have often voiced their concerns with Boise State’s support of the LGBTQIA+ community. While the university is home to a diverse population of students, the queer community is often underrepresented. However, Boise State and the surrounding communities do have a variety of resources to offer queer students.

ON-CAMPUS RESOURCES Gender Equity Center (GEC) “The Gender Equity Center is a friendly, supportive environment for

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people of all gender identities to explore, celebrate and educate the campus community about gender equity,” according to the GEC website.

Boise State’s Gender Equity Center offers a range of intersectional support and services to all students and campus com-

GENDER EQUITY CENTER munity members, including the LGBTQIA+ community and others that need support on the basis of race, class and/or gender.

The center’s mission is broken down into three parts: community, interactive programs and confidential support, said GEC Director Adriane Bang.

“We try to be a safe place where folks can come and meet people who have identities similar to theirs,” Bang said.

The GEC provides no-cost, confidential support services to campus community members that have been affected by identity-related harassment; sexual harassment and sexual assault; stalking; unhealthy relationships and relationship violence; life transitions and crises; academic and financial roadblocks; and other life experiences related to gender, sexual

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orientation and allyship.

“We see folks for all kinds of other different questions or needs, too,” Bang said.

“So someone might come here as a first stop to say, you know, ‘I think I might need an accommodation. I think I might have depression or anxiety and I need to talk to someone about it. How do I do that? I’m not sure where to go.’”

Bang stressed that, no matter the issue, the GEC is there to provide support to the Boise State community. At the very least, the GEC can refer students to other sources of support on and off-campus, including mental health resources, financial assistance, abuse reporting and more.

“Our best choices are informed choices,” Bang said. “If folks are just not sure about what choices are available to them, … we’ll share with them about their rights, resources and options related to whatever issue they may bring forward.”

Because the center is currently shortstaffed and is working to return to pre-pandemic standards, the GEC’s educational outreach and event programs are currently on hold. However, the center still consults with other campus departments and organizations that are looking to facilitate community-building.

Dean of Students The Dean of Students Office offers various support services for LGBTQIA+ students. The Steven Nelson Memorial Fund exists to financially support students who are going through hardships related to their identity

and coming out.

The fund was created in honor of Steven Nelson, a former Boise State faculty member who was violently hate crimed

Though Idaho has

a history of leaving out and not supporting the LGBTQIA+ community, there are still a number of re sources available to queer students . and later died in the hospital as a result. Nelson had been very open about his experiences as a gay man and did his best to support LGBTQIA+ students.

Much too often, coming out can lead to LGBTQIA+ people being fired, harassed, dis- owned or evicted. Students struggling with these things are encouraged to apply for the fund. For eligible students, the fund can provide up to $1,500 over two semesters.

Students facing food insecurity or instability can also utilize the Dean of Students’ Campus Food Pantry.

Located within the Campus School building, the pantry offers canned and boxed foods, snacks, shelf-stable produce, refrigerated items and personal hygiene products.

LGBTQIA+ Support Group Health and Counseling Services at Boise State offer a number of free counseling groups to students including the LGBTQIA+ Support Group. The group sessions are led by two licensed clinicians aiming to facilitate discussions and sharing between group members in a safe space.

There is a range of topics students are able to discuss such as sexual and romantic orientation, gender identity and dysphoria, coming out and mental health.

Students who participate in the LGBTQIA+ group can expect to come away from sessions with a sense of community, a better understanding of themselves and the opportunity to support and learn from others.

Those interested in joining the LGBTQIA+ support group can fill out a form on the University Health Services webpage. Currently, the group meets every Tuesday from 10-11:30 a.m. in the second-floor clinic of the Norco Building.

The time currently reflected on the Health Services website is incorrect.

For those looking for individual help, the Counseling Services have a few staff members who specialize or have interest in LGBTQIA+ issues. This information can be found on the Health Services website under the staff tab.

Name Change Transgender students may face struggles revolving around deadnames since most identifications and student materials use legal names. However, students looking to go by a different name have a few options they can utilize.

Students may change

their name in their myBoiseState Student Center within the personal information tab. According to the Boise State Registrar’s website, myBoiseState, Canvas, student housing and class rosters will all reflect this name change.

For students who want their username and email address to use a different name, they can fill out the information update form on the registrar’s website and return it to

according to one report , idaho only has 3.75 policies in place to support the lgbtqia + community .

their office in the administration building, room 110.

Student employees working on campus need to go to Human Resources and submit a few forms through their department as well for changes in their employee email.

Students can go to the Human Resources website through Boise State to find and submit those forms.

OFF-CAMPUS RESOURCES ACLU Idaho The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is a national non-partisan, non-profit organization that works to defend and protect the rights of citizens. The ACLU has a history of supporting

and defending the LGBT+ community in Idaho, including rallying against anti-trans bills proposed by Idaho politicians and supporting trans students in fighting those bills.

The ACLU LGBTQ Project can be a resource to queer students. “Know Your Rights” lists protections that students are guaranteed and, should a student feel as if their rights have been invalidated, they are encouraged to reach out for help.

Allies Linked for the Prevention of HIV and AIDS (ALPHA) ALPHA is a “community-based, not-forprofit sexual health site” that offers several services at little to no cost. The clinic offers STI testing along with linkage to care, helping patients find “affordable care related to any service” that ALPHA provides.

ALPHA works closely with other local health groups like Family Medicine Residency of Idaho to help patients on an all-inclusive path to wellness, including physical, mental and spiritual resources like medical specialists, psychologists, social workers, massage therapists and more.

The clinic also works with the Idaho Foodbank to provide an on-site food pantry designated for community members who have been diagnosed with HIV/AIDS and their households. Their office is located in downtown Boise at 537 W. Bannock St. Additionally, ALPHA offers free, easily accessible harm reduction products, like condoms, gauze, alcohol pads and more, through its “buffet-style Safety Wall.” The Safety Wall is intended to reduce the risk of harm and death from opioid use. ALPHA is also a Syringe/Needle Exchange Program (SNEP) participant, helping community members properly

dispose of sharps and safely acquire new sterile products.

Ada & Canyon County Self Rescue Manual Currently managed by social workers through the Boise School Dis-

ADA & CANYON COUNTY SELF RESCUE trict, the Self Rescue Manual is a comprehensive collection of local resources for those in need. There are two versions of the manual, one designated for Ada County and the other specific to Canyon County.

The manual provides information on resources related to mental health, medical services, disability services, financial assistance, housing, employment, substance abuse support and more. The document also lists local shelter and food pantry information, as well as support groups and community programs.

Visit selfrescuemanual.com to access the resource guide.

Though Idaho has a history of leaving out and not supporting the LGBTQIA+ community, there are still a number of resources available to queer students. Students who identify within the community often feel underrepresented and isolated, and being connected to these sources of support can make a meaningful difference.

A Resource Guide for Q ueer S tudents , + living in idaho can be daunting but local lgbtqia

resources are available

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Paige Wirta & Ashley L. Clark | Opinion Editor, OnlineSEPTEMBER Editor | onlineeditor@stumedia.boisestate.edu 9, 2021 | ARBITERONLINE.COM Graphics by Sasha White, Illustrations by Alieha Dryden | The Arbiter

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November 4, 2021 | ARBITERONLINE.COM

GIMM PROGRAM REACHES BEYOND CAMPUS TO AFFECT COMMUNITY CHANGE More than just video game development, GIMM works to reach statewide Patrick R. Kaufmann | Staff Writer | culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu

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ention of Boise State’s Games, Interactive Media & Mobile (GIMM) program conjures an image of aspiring game developers huddled over their desktop computers. That perception falls short of describing the work taking place on the first floor of the Albertsons Library, where GIMM students are learning skills that can serve their communities.

GIMM students start by learning a number of basic skills like computer programming and design. GIMM program senior Jamey Dunn was able to apply her love of design on a two-dimensional frameby-frame project before learning how to program a game.

“It’s very messy and scary,” Dunn said.

“But I was like, wow! We’re already making a game and jumping into the work and feeling like we’re learning quickly. I wouldn’t have to wait a few years before I saw progress.”

Dunn has developed music compositions and digital art assets as part of larger projects, which she credits to the accessibility and creative license that the program offers.

“GIMM prepares you with a lot of base information in many different areas during your first year,” Dunn said. “It takes all these different disciplines and puts them all together. We have a very diverse group of students who come from different educational backgrounds, and end up in a lot of different positions.”

Beyond developing a technical skill set, students also focus on finding ways for the technology to help tackle critical issues like child education development and food insecurity on campus.

Dr. Patricia Hampshire, Boise State’s early and special education department chair, works with Idaho elementary schools to

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implement GIMM-developed applications like ABC Stories, a hand-writing application that uses augmented reality (AR).

“ABC Stories is an early writing app that helps teach writing skills to individuals with autism spectrum disorders,” Hampshire said. “There’s growing research on the effectiveness of AR, projecting what’s happening in the app onto the world around you.”

Hampshire approached the GIMM program with the proposal, and a team of students immediately went to work. ABC Stories was developed by a team led by GIMM student Lauren Matthews, and is available for free on the App Store.

“This is about solving problems and giving back to the community,” Hampshire said. “Boise State is a place where problems can be solved collaboratively with community partners. That’s what really interests me about the GIMM program.”

“GIMM prepares you with a lot of base information in many different areas during your first year. It takes all these different disciplines and puts them all together.”

- Jamey Dunn, GIMM senior

Projects like this are part of GIMM program director Dr. Anthony Ellertson’s vision of Boise State University as a “city on a hill.”

“I want to cement more of the projects that we’re doing for the community and create a more robust pipeline where you have people from the community or the state coming to ask us to help tackle a problem,” Ellertson said.

GIMMWORKS is a student development team that applies their skills to solving real-world problems. The team

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The GIMM program is located on the first floor of the Albertsons Library.

Claire Keener | The Arbiter has previously released the Bronco BEAM (Beacon Environment Approximation Mapping) application.

Available for free from the App Store or Google Play, the BEAM app offers real-time free food alerts to help combat food insecurity for Boise State students.

“One way I would like to see the program grow is to increase access to these technologies across the state, especially in the rural schools,” Ellerstson said. “We’re working with Gear Up Idaho, a program for promoting science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) careers and helping students get into college.”

The GIMM program opened in 2015 as a part of the College of Innovation and Design. Available courses include game design theory, interactive storytelling and a digital portfolio. The portfolio is a graduation requirement and is intended to showcase six to eight industry-quality artifacts.

“The difference between GIMM and computer science has to do with the emphasis,” Ellertson said. “Computer science

tends to emphasize more of the back-end data processing and analytics. In the GIMM program, we’re interested in how human beings interact with technology.”

The GIMM degree plan incorporates much more than video game development.

“Gaming is a big part of our curriculum,” Ellertson said. “But when you look at our graduates, we have folks working in manufacturing and developing augmented and virtual reality solutions, and that is really where our graduates will find the best opportunities.”

According to a 2016 report by global investment banking firm Goldman Sachs, augmented and virtual reality are projected to grow into at least an $80 billion market by 2025.

“We’re seeing a huge uptick in mixed-reality developers who work with augmented and virtual reality,” Ellertson said. “Two-thirds of that market will be dominated by industry applications like training and manufacturing simulations and product interconnectivity.”

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WHAT’S NEW WITH CAMPUS SUSTAINABILITY

The university and student clubs offer opportunities such as Eco-Reps, the Recycle Fest, Sustainability Club and more Ollie Branson | Staff Writer | culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu

Various clubs help educate the campus community, including on things like what can and cannot by recycled.

Claire Keener | The Arbiter

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or those interested in environmentalism and looking to get more involved, Campus Sustainability and the Sustainability Club have lots in store for the year.

Boise State Campus Sustainability strives to “build empowered, equitable, resilient communities by facilitating education, diverse collaboration, and civic engagement to create an ever-growing healthy and sustainable university.”

Campus Sustainability offers multiple ways for students passionate about caring for the environment to get involved and connected with individuals of similar interests through the Sustainability Club, Trash Club, Eco-Reps, internships and more.

Paul Venable, in his first year as the event coordinator for the Sustainability Club, was recruited last June because of his work with Boise State’s very own Trash Club.

Venable is the founder of the Trash Club, which he started a little over a year ago with the goal in mind to “address the problem of litter in Boise and more so, the amount of littering that can appear with a city growing as fast as Boise.”

According to Venable, this club became so successful that he chose to start a separate nonprofit while still keeping the Boise State club. Trash Club is a great first step for students looking to get more involved on campus, find more information on engage. boisestate.edu.

Along with the Trash Club, Venable is the head of this year’s Recycle Fest happening on campus. The event started a few years ago as a way to spread awareness about recycling in the residence halls on campus.

Recycle Fest is a way to help educate students about our recycling program here in Idaho, including what is recycla-

ble and what isn’t.

The entire month of October, members of the Sustainability Club tabled around residence halls on campus interacting with and educating students about the recycling process at Boise State.

“We want students to know why it’s so important to recycle because on campus, we can’t recycle that much,” Venable said.

“One of the biggest things is that plastic is not recyclable at all on campus and many students don’t know that.”

Venable explains that many of Boise State’s students are coming from states like California, Oregon and Washington, where almost everything is recyclable, unlike here in Idaho.

Recycle Fest is here to educate the Boise State campus and help us towards a better future in recycling.

Another great opportunity for students to get more involved in campus sustainability is the Eco-Reps programs. Eco-Reps “serve as sustainability ambassadors to the University and participate in activities focused on making a positive environmental impact in the Boise State community and beyond,” according to their website As an Eco-Rep, students work with Campus Sustainability to develop their own projects geared towards improving Boise State’s environmental footprint, giving students the opportunity to directly improve sustainability on campus and implement new campaigns.

Kat Davis, the Campus Sustainability director and the driving force behind the sustainability office, strives to help the community and individuals “put energy towards a better future.”

“I like to think of my role as bringing passionate folks together to reimagine what is possible,” Davis said. “And bridge partnerships to reach common goals, and to help [add value] into one’s everyday work or academic life.”

Davis has been with Campus Sustainability for over four years, having started in August of 2017. After growing interested in environmental issues through human health and wellbeing in high school, Davis went on to major in environmental studies and geography at the University of Colorado Boulder.

As a systematic thinker, Davis strives to help the Boise community work towards a better future and believes that “sustainability is all about constantly envisioning and practicing that science fiction of building a better tomorrow and what that could look like.”

Events orchestrated through the Sustainability Club and Trash Club are great ways for students to dip their toes into environmental work, but for those looking for more serious opportunities, Campus Sustainability can help you get connected with internships and volunteer work.

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MODERN ADAPTATION OF ‘OEDIPUS REX’ TO PREMIERE ON CAMPUS NOV. 12

Students and faculty running ‘Oedipus Tremendous’ will bring the Greek tragedy into new focus Mark Whiteley | Staff Writer | culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu

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n adaptation of the classic Greek tragedy “Oedipus Rex” by theatre professor Gordon Reinhart, named “Oedipus Tremendous,” will premiere at the Danny Peterson Theatre in the Velma V. Morrison Center on Nov. 12.

“Oedipus Rex” is a famous Greek tragedy that tells the story of a king who attempts to avoid a prophecy that says he will inevitably kill his father and marry his mother.

This adaptation will tell the story in a way that combines the original text with a more contemporary take. “[I] tried to not make it too modern, but not make it ancient either,” Reinhart

said. “So the text still has some sense of language, and it doesn’t have any absolutely modern ‘isms.’”

The Department of Theatre, Film and Creative Writing was originally set to reprise “The Drag” this November, but, with COVID restrictions still in place, they decided to go in a different direction and make the most out of the mask mandate.

Reinhart credits fellow faculty member Darrin Puffal-Purdy with the idea of bringing Greek drama to life at the Morrison Center in a way that reflects the original style it was performed in. “[Darrin] called me and said ‘if we can’t beat them, let’s join them and do Greek

tragedy and do it in masks,’” Reinhart said.

The actors will wear both singer’s masks as well as theatrical Greek masks placed towards the tops of their heads to create a larger-than-life look.

Junior theatre arts major Zoë Kelly saw this as a unique opportunity and is excited to be involved in the production.

“That was an opportunity as an actor that I’m never going to have, performing a Greek tragedy with Greek masks with stylized movement,” Kelly said. “It’s just not something that’s really done anymore.”

The addition of masks and contemporary language are not the only modern takes Reinhart hopes audiences will take away from

the production. The two-part chorus which opposes each other in opinion throughout the show will feel familiar to many.

Reinhart said writing the choral parts of the show was fairly easy, as he had inspiration from everyday life in our country.

“That was an opportunity as an actor that I’m never going to have, performing a Greek tragedy with Greek masks with stylized movement. It’s just not something that’s really done anymore.”

- Zoё Kelly, junior

theatre arts major

The Danny Peterson Theatre is housed in the Velma V. Morrison Performing Arts Center.

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Claire Keener | The Arbiter

“The process was pretty quick because, of course, I live in the same world as everyone else, so I am constantly bombarded with what’s happening in the world,” Reinhart said. “It felt very germane to the story.”

Reinhart, along with Puffal-Purdy, the costume designer for this production, also hint at the relevance this story has to recent events in our society and how their adaptation of “Oedipus Rex” will reference certain prominent leaders.

“I think the title might give you a little bit of a clue,” Puffal-Purdy said. “We might be comparing him to another leader.”

With shows running Nov. 12 through Nov. 21, students with a Bronco ID can reserve free tickets in person, in advance or purchase them for $5 at the door. General admission tickets for “Oedipus Tremendous” for all other visitors are available through Ticketmaster for $20.

For more information on this modern take on a classic as well as information for the 2021-2022 production season you can visit the Theatre, Film and Creative Writing website.

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THE DEAN OF STUDENTS OFFERS A SPACE TO SLOW DOWN ON CAMPUS A first-hand account of visiting the Relaxation Room

Becky Wilson | Staff Writer & Social Media and Outreach Coordinator | culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu

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ollege life tends to be stressful, and finding time to destress can be even more stressful. Boise State offers students a place to reflect and slow down on campus.

This place is known as the Student Relaxation Room, which was created by the Office of the Dean of Students to provide a safe haven for those who need time to be alone.

The Relaxation Room, which is in the Campus School Building, has a counterpart in the NORCO building at University Health Services called the Oasis Room.

However, what makes the Relaxation Room so important is that it’s for students only, while the Oasis Room can be accessed by both students and faculty.

Associate Dean of Students Lauren Oe was one of the main creators of the room in late 2018.

“So one thing we were wondering is ... ‘how do we maybe provide that same service on this side of campus?’” Oe said. “And so that is how we decided to create that space [and] we had the room available.”

When I started my junior year at Boise State, nothing could have prepared me for the amount of stress I was going to experience. I came into the semester a fulltime student working two jobs. It felt like I didn’t have time to slow down. I missed my partner and my family, and on top of that, COVID was putting a damper on my mood. I often found myself feeling sad and falling behind in my classes.

“Sometimes we’ll refer students to the Relaxation Room as a way to say ‘don’t forget to take care of yourself.’”

- Sarah Wilson,

academic integrity program director

The room includes a massage chair, aromatherapy, a sound machine and more.

Even though I had a pretty good support system, I felt like I couldn’t figure out how to make time for myself and time to relax. I think that’s why I made the decision to take a crack at the Relaxation Room. I mean, what did I have to lose? If anything, I could spend a few minutes by myself and take a nap in the massage chair.

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I entered the room. As soon as I stepped in, I immediately felt a sense of calm wash over me. It was nice to have a place to completely check out for a while. I didn’t feel the pressure to do anything, and that felt like bliss.

The resources supplied just added to the environment. The office provides coloring books, a massage chair, aroma-

therapy, a yoga mat, sound machine and a few other resources.

In my 30 minutes with the room, I put the massage chair, the coloring book and the sound machine to use. These resources made me feel at peace, and I’m glad to know that there is a place at Boise State created just for students to center themselves.

Aside from the Relaxation Room, the Office of the Dean of Students has many resources that they use to support students including student conduct, academic integrity and student outreach and assistance.

Academic Integrity Program Director Sarah Wilson works to direct students to resources that can help them in their academic growth.

“All of us refer our students for differ-

Claire Keener | The Arbiter

ent services that we think could help support them as people because, until we are supported as people, we can’t be successful learners,” Wilson said. “So, sometimes we’ll refer students to the Relaxation Room as a way to say, ‘don’t forget to take care of yourself.’”

If you feel that the Relaxation Room might be able to bring you some serenity this semester, you can learn about the room on the Dean of Student’s website or book your appointment online.

“It’s a place to just exist and so [we are] kind of welcoming it back onto campus as it reopens,” Oe said. “And then I think future growth is just really thinking about how we can support students to take that time and space.”

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SPORTS & REC November 4, 2021 | ARBITERONLINE.COM

BOISE STATE ATHLETES LOVE THEIR GAME DAY ATTIRE

Personal traditions and accessories help student-athletes perform to the best of their abilities Adam Bridges | Sports & Rec Reporter | sports@stumedia.boisestate.edu

always number 21 or 2,” Shakir said. “We were obviously trying to model our game, our swagger and confidence from Deion Sanders. When I got into high school, number 2 was there and I just ended up taking it over.”

Some college programs prefer that their athletes do not wear accessories during game days. One of the most prominent college sports that discourages athletes from wearing accessories is women’s basketball.

“I definitely believe in the look good, feel good, play good type of deal. I definitely think it’s a huge confidence booster.”

- Khalil Shakir, senior receiver

Athletes often develop their own traditions to help them compete at the highest level.

O

n game days, most student-athletes are given the ability to put on attire and accessories that make themselves feel good enough to perform their best.

“I definitely believe in the look good, feel good, play good type of deal,” said senior receiver Khalil Shakir. “I definitely think it’s a huge confidence booster.”

Having the most gameday drip is a ritual in itself, and players have made it a tradition to wear the same eye-grabbing accessories each game day.

“I pretty much wear the same thing every week,” Shakir said. “It’s the two armbands — one armband on each leg — and spat over the cleats and turf tape.”

While it’s fun and all, there seems to be a point where wearing accessories can be a little bit too over the top.

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“We have a player named The Fireman, but he goes by [senior forward] Abu Kigab,” said Boise State men’s basketball redshirt junior guard Max Rice. “He likes to wear a headband, two arm sleeves and leg sleeves. He goes a little crazy, but I think he’s earned the right to wear whatever because he puts up numbers and wins games. He gets a pass because of that.”

Regardless of wearing too many accessories — or too few — whatever makes the athlete feel good can be an important part of getting comfortable, relaxed and ready to perform. Whether that means wearing armbands on their legs like Shakir or going sleeveless like senior linebacker Riley Whimpey, it’s always best for the player to wear whatever it takes to get their confidence up.

“In my opinion, you should do what-

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Claire Keener | The Arbiter

ever makes you feel best,” Whimpey said.

“Whatever you do or wear that gives you the swagger that you need, you should definitely do it.”

Accessories and numbers don’t always have to carry a swag factor to make the players feel confident. They could also carry a sentimental value which helps an athlete play better on game days.

“I normally like to wear the number 11, but I couldn’t wear that number at my previous school,” said junior guard Kaitlin Burgess. “Fortunately I am able to wear number 11 at Boise State. I like to wear that number because that was the number my dad wore when he played back in New Zealand.”

A number could represent the number a family member wore, or it could represent Hall of Fame cornerback Deion Sanders.

“Growing up, my brothers and I were

According to Burgess, she believes that schools do not allow their women’s basketball players to wear accessories because they do not want them to get carried away with wearing too many.

“Boise State women’s basketball does not really like players to go over the top with accessories,” Burgess said. “Most college women’s basketball teams carry the same mentality as well.”

This leads to the athletes finding unique ways to look as good as they can while being limited creatively.

“One of the things that I normally wear on game days is an undershirt,” Burgess said. “The team is still kind of strict on undershirts though so I have to request undershirts for game days.”

Regardless of how creative or minimal an athlete decides to get when it comes to accessories, the fact that they look good, feel good and play good is the most important thing.

SPORTS & REC

FULL CAPACITY SET FOR BASKETBALL

CROSS-COUNTRY AT MOUNTAIN WEST

Lexi Almeido | Spor ts & Rec Editor | spor ts@stumedia.boisestate.edu

Lexi Almeido | Spor ts & Rec Editor | spor ts@stumedia.boisestate.edu

ExtraMile Arena will host first game on Nov. 6

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xtraMile Arena will return to full indoor capacity — around 13,000 seats — for the 202122 men’s and women’s basketball seasons, Boise State announced on Oct. 21.

Last season, no fans were allowed inside the ExtraMile Arena for a majority of home games played. On Feb. 16, 2021, this policy changed when Boise State announced it would be allowing a limited number of spectators into the arena.

According to Boise State University Policy, facial coverings will be required at all times inside the arena regardless of vaccination status, unless fans are actively consuming food or beverage. Facial shields may be worn but do not replace masks or face coverings.

Like in most sports, athletes on the court will not be required to wear masks.

“In accordance with the Fall NCAA Resocialization of Sport guidance, student-athletes actively participating on the court and the head coaches are not required to wear facial coverings,” the press release stated.

A 6-foot barrier will be established between the team benches and all non-Tier 1 individuals. ExtraMile’s courtside seating will be reduced by four total seats.

Spectators sitting in sections 3 through 10 will not be permitted to access their seats

from the floor level. Instead, these fans will be able to access their seats from stairwells inside the lobbies.

A limited number of sections will be reserved to accommodate fans who prefer socially distanced seating options. Fans will also have the option to request relocation assistance on site.

Similar to COVID protocols at home football games in Albertsons Stadium, members of the media will be required to show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test 72 hours prior to tip-off.

Boise State men’s basketball postgame press conferences will be conducted in person following home games. Postgame interview policies for women’s basketball have yet to be announced.

“Attendance will be limited to credentialed media and working staff and social distancing measures will be in place,” the press release stated. “All attendees, including coaches and student-athletes, will be required to wear facial coverings.”

Alcohol sales will also be available inside ExtraMile Arena this season. Similar to alcohol sales at Boise State home football games, a Drink Responsibly campaign will be promoted on game days.

Tickets will be managed digitally for the 2021-22 season. Ticket holders can access their tickets online or through the Boise State Athletics app.

The 13,000-seat indoor arena will soon be filled for the basketball season.

Claire Keener | The Arbiter

De Caro wins, leads men to second, women take fifth

Senior Dario De Caro (center) ran the second-fastest time in MW history at 8k.

Photo courtesy of Boise State Athletics cos were ranked No. 23 heading into the he Boise State cross-counMWC and outran No. 19 Colorado State try teams competed at the and No. 21 Utah State.

Mountain West Champion“[I am] excited about the men, they did ship (MWC) in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on Oct. 29. The men’s team an awesome job, competed really hard and finished in second place behind Air Force followed the race plan to a tee,” Ihmels said. “We came out with a really good run. while the women’s team finished in fifth We missed [senior] Logan [Rees] today, place behind New Mexico, Utah State, but I thought the guys really stepped up Colorado State and Air Force. and had a fantastic finish.”

Senior Dario De Caro took the podium On the women’s side, the Broncos finin the men’s 8k race, running the secished fifth in the 6k race with 141 points. ond-fastest time in Mountain West (MW) Senior Olivia Johnson led the Broncos, history (23:26.8). This win marks Boise State’s first individual MW title since 2016 finishing in 13th place with a time of 20:09.2. with Yusuke Uchikoshi.

Behind her was sophomore Delaney De Caro was named the MW Men’s Griffin in 33rd place with a time of Student-Athlete of the Year and notched 20:52.3. This was Griffin’s highest finish MW First-Team All-Conference Honors. among her Bronco teammates this season.

“I saw [De Caro] at the halfway point “It’s been a little up and down for the and he was a little antsy,” said head coach women this season, but Olivia [Johnson] Corey Ihmels. “I kept telling him, ‘Be has battled through and stayed true,” patient, be patient,’ and then he took off Ihmels said. “I thought the women with about a kilometer and a half to go.

Exciting for him, a great day for him to be prepared really well today. Obviously, the finish wasn’t exactly what we wanted, but the individual winner.”

I thought they approached it better, and I His first place finish helped the Broncos think we’ll be even better in two weeks.” finish with 64 points, second behind the The Broncos will travel to Sacramento, Falcons with 27 points.

California, for the NCAA West Regional For the men’s team, the MW hosted hosted by Sacramento State on Nov. 12. four top-25 teams in the nation, which is the most out of any conference. The Bron-

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SPORTS & REC

THE BOISE STATE BOXING CLUB IS BACK IN THE RING

The Boxing Club has begun their first official season, and is open to students with a USA boxing card Hunter Bos | Staff Writer | sports@stumedia.boisestate.edu

The club was formed at the height of the pandemic, but fighters are now in the full swing of their first season.

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oise State’s Boxing Club stepped back in the ring on Oct. 16 in Quincy, Washington, to face off against the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA). This was the Broncos’ first match as an official team. The tournament consisted of three, three-minute rounds with headgear and 12-ounce gloves.

For many Broncos on the team, this was their first fight, as the team formed in 2020 when the pandemic was at its peak.

“UCLA fighters are monsters,” said sophomore mechanical engineering major Micah Franklin.

Franklin just joined the team but feels like he’s been a part of it for years. Franklin had no prior experience in boxing but had always wanted to try it, and now, the Boise State Boxing Club has helped this goal come true.

“I’ve learned a new skill through self-de-

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fense and I’m also learning self-discipline and self-motivation,” Franklin said. “Also learning how to get hit and not quit.”

Sophomore finance major Nick Radabaugh said that he learned the basics of boxing, footwork and how to defend himself properly all through the Boxing Club.

“Boxing is about technique because we enter the match with the same stats, so it comes down to who trained harder and who has the better technique,” Radabaugh said.

The Boxing Club is not just for those who want a future in boxing, but for anyone and everyone who wants to learn self defense or just get a good workout in.

Practice is held Monday through Thursday from 6-8 p.m. in a backroom in the Kinesiology building where there’s no ring to spar in.

During a practice, the team first starts out with jumping rope for 15 minutes,

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shadow boxing for 20 minutes, teaching new moves and techniques, then shadow boxing again with those new skills. They then work on new combinations of punches and finish practice with intense cardio.

“The beginning of practice is tense but as soon as guys start hitting each other it actually gets more fun,” Franklin said.

Head coach Mark Martello used to box when he was in the army. He’s interested to see how well the Boise State club boxing team shapes up against schools like West Point and Air Force.

“It will be exciting to see this thing grow from the ground up,” Martello said.

To become a boxer at Boise State, you must be a full-time student, have at least a 2.0 GPA and have a USA boxing card to compete. Required equipment includes hand wraps, boxing gloves, mouthguard and head gear.

Claire Keener | The Arbiter Many students on the team have big dreams they want to accomplish. Not everyone in the Boxing Club wants to keep fighting after college, but for Franklin, his goal is to fight Jake Paul.

“Canelo. He’s my favorite. He’s an animal,” Franklin said when asked about his favorite fighter and who he aspires to fight like.

“It will be exciting to see this thing grow from the ground up.”

- Mark Martello,

Boxing Club head coach

Students can find the Boxing Club meeting times, waivers and where to pay the $150 per semester fee on engage. boisestate.edu.

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